How do you leave your neighborhood when sentimental reasons are holding you back?

Begin looking and when desire and opportunity meet up, make your move.

Look in the mirror and ask yourself “This is the only life I have. Do I want to spent it here?”
A move will never be easier than right now.
Sieze the day!

I don’t know. I am facing the same question: whether to stay in the “marital home”, which I love, or move on to somewhere that might make me happier. I find the idea of moving daunting and I am very rooted tothis place but not sure if it is good for me.

Focus on the positive aspects of why you are going. The neighborhood will still be there when you leave, meaning you can go back and have a look. I moved from a place I felt very comfortable in to another country. It is harder as I doubt I can ever go back, nor have I got any personal items from ‘that life’.

I’m actually going through this same thing right now. I grew up here, and I have a lot of memories. I’ll miss the neighbors (the ones that aren’t creepy) and the fields. The trails. The things I can’t take with me when I go.
I just remind myself that I hate living here a lot more than I love it. I hate the cold winters, because we live in a run down trailer that you can’t get warm no matter what you do. I hate that it’s so expensive to live here, because we constantly have to fix things.
I tell myself that somewhere else would be better. That we can find a more convenient location, and we can live somewhere that isn’t embarrassing when people come over.

I usually cry and keep putting one foot in front of the other. I have to say that most places I have lived don’t hold a tremendous amount of sentimental value, it usually has more to do with me truly enjoying living there and being sad about leaving those things.

What you need to do is find what to be happy about in the new place and focus on that. If you have an exercise routine, find in the new place the gyms you will go to and have that ready. Research the tourist attractions and get exciting about visiting the new things to see and experience. If you have always wanted to take golf lessons, do it. Those types of things help the transition go faster. If you move to a place that you associate with vacation you will be on vacation all the time. That’s how I felt when I moved to FL after college, and every time I have moved back to the state. For you it might be big city or mountains or countryside. Where you live can make an incredible difference in your life.

New chapter in the book, go for it. If your town has bad feelings mixed in with good, then when you leave there will be a huge weight lifted. But, maybe you don’t have bad memories just lack of job opportunity? You didn’t say why you might move.

You can always go back home. Leaving doesn’t mean you can never go back to visit or live. I know many people who have lived in the same city more than once.

@AshLeigh It’s not easy I will be honest. Try and take some personal things with you if you can. Also take photo’s you can frame them and hang them in your new home. There will be good days and bad days. I’m not sure of your situation but work helps (when you reach the new place) or if work is not an option then help at charities that sort of thing. Build new memories.

This week I bought a couple of items from a second hand furniture store. I feel pleased as I know these items will have their own memories in time. If that makes sense?

Thanks everyone. I feel better about leaving now.

“This is the only life I have. Do I want to spent it here?”

^That was the kick that I needed!

@huzzah You’ve started a new life journey! Good luck!
Please let us know how it works out for you.